LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1927, 9 December 1913, Page 9

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

"BULLOCKY BILL'S" EXPLOITS. SOME GENTLE CRITICISM. Sir —I havo read with delight tho effusion of "Uulloeky l!ill," and havo, after much sympathetic 'consideration, removed him from my list of heroes. At tho commencement of the strike, seized with tho universal panic, I looked on all tho men from the country who shouldered tho city's burden in'order to ship their own produce as heroes of tho highest standard. Now, sir, 1 liavo always observed that a truly heroic spirit always _ restrains its. possessor from expatiating 011 his own virtue or condemning tho lack of it in others. Duty is tho guide of a spirit such as tlfis—duty for its own sake, duty to bo followed irrespective of the assistance of others. Is such a spirit to -bo gathered in "Bullocky Boy's" letter? Surely that a consciousness of what ho did, a belief that it was heroic, a desire to havo hijS heroism recognised and a reliance 011 others which is characteristic not of a hero but rather of an egoist. Now, sir, it is perhaps necessary for a moment to advert to. tho fact alleged--111 our bullock} - friend's letter. He accuses tlio younger citizens of negligence, carelessness, and cowardice in their response to the call of law ami order. In that ho is right, but because tlie. great majority failed to respond to the call surely "Bullocky Bill," whose brain I hope corresponds not with his body, will not justify his attempt, due doubtless to tho inspiration of tho moment, to attack those who did enroll themselves as city "specials," and carried out their duties, as is shown by those records of attendance of which onr bullocky friend who shipped his produco is doubtless unaware, 'lo conclude, sir, it is difficult to reply to a letter wliich cue can only assume is based 011 a personal grievance. Ido not wish to enter into personalities, but I cannot refrain from saying that "Bullocky's" letter seems to bo based on a sense of personal wrong. Poor old "Bullocky," 3-011 havo been driving a winch while tho cause of your visit hero has partaken of tea with <i city "special." Why do you rail at this? Surely at your ago you must havo learnt that tlie hand kept for ornament novcr yet has seized that which is held by 'the honest horny hand of labour.' Still in your case surely it would bo bettor to grasp only your winch, stick to your job, and avoid' in silence the many difficulties and complications that fall in the way of tlioso who strive for more than is either their fair or lawful share.—l am, etc., CITIZEN.

Sir, "Bill the Bullocky" is too modest. He presumably is one of tlie lignt brigade; nt'ty-six irom the W'airarapa ana thirty-one from Manawatu, w)io ill their brilliant charge opposite tho Post Offico. (for which 'uioso actually concerned deserved all sorts of credit) setI tied tho whole business. The remainder oi t'he boys from the country, to the number ol 1013, who were quartered at tho Buckio Street Barracks during tho first week of trouble; t'liose, including tho redoubtable 87. aforementioned, who formed the groat cavalry ride down Willis and I 1 eatherston [Streets, when iron bolts, picces of lock, and ot'iier emblems of peace,""were thrown at tho rearguard, don't count of course. "Bill" is too true 'a bullocky. lie doesn't seem to be able to got away from bullocky principles. It the leaders "Blackie" and "Piebald" won't gee, tho w'liolo team is of courso stuck up. In tho great ride, however, it was us polers which came in for all t'lio lash, and, contrary to . his experience though it may be, it was their staunchness that retrieved tht*, position. Si)' much for- the country boys. "But" what about the townies? Many of t'hese who now wear a two-inch collar have, perhaps"dono at. least as much hard toil as you "Bill"—and idien doing so they didn't see causo to "chuck off" at others cither. Your inferehco that largo numbers of young city men failed to come forward is correct. More correct than perliaps you imagine, for at least 50 per ccnt. of the foot "specials" were made up of married men. Hero yon are on right lines, and if, instead of attempting to mako light of those that did enrol, you had confined yourself to upbraiding tho hundreds of young fellows between 20 and 30 years of ago who stood out, your remarks would havo been justifiable in tho extreme. A two-inch collar is hot necessarily a sign of incompetence in a physical sense, as you, "Bill," wlo probably wear one when you take tho missus or tho intended to the theatre, should know. And, 'say, don't you yourself wear one when in town on other than 'strike-breaking business ?—I. am. etc., I JACK THE MARKIS. I

Sir, —I have read with great interest tho letter of "Bill the Bullocky" in your issue of to-day's date, and" as a Wellington citizen, I feel that somo reply is called for. First, let mo say that wo of Wellington recognise frankly- that our debt tothe men from tho country is greater than it is. within our power to repay, and I do not think that oven "Bill the Bullocky" will say that we have nofc dono what littlo is within our power to show that we recognise to tho full our indebtedness. I, of course, uso tho term "wo" as signifying the general body of "Wellington citizens, sinco it is necessarily impossible to answer for the degenerates in any community. With "Bill tho Bullocky's" remarks as to thoso in Wellington who have failed to do a hand's turn to help in tho present crisis I have littlo fault to find. I make no defence for such weaklings ; and, indeed, had I tho ability, I should condemn them with,all tho forceful satire which "Bill the Bullocky" ap-. plios to them. But "Bill the Bullocky" must r.ccogniso that in New Zealand the town is necessary to the country, just as tho country is necessary to tho town, and interference with the trade of the ports is an injury not only to tho ports, but to tho country served by thoso ports. Both tho country and tho town must bear thc'burdeii in an industrial crisis such as this, and if "Bill the Bullocky" must make comparisons as to the readiness of the town and country populations respectively to bear that burden, let mo at least ask that such comparisons may ' bo postponed until tho crisis is past.

As to so much of "Bill tlio Bifllocky'.s" letter as I Imvo so far dealt with, I have gone no farther than to urge. liim to delay his criticism, l:nt tliorc is a part- of liia letter wliirji c.Ji at no time bo defensible. I refer, r>F course, to his remarks upon the Wellington foot specials. As to those remarks, no fair-minded man will think it necessary for me to do more than remind "Bill the litillocky" that, whether a man works as a watersider or as a special constable, lie does his duty if lie performs to the best of liis ability the services ref|iiire(l of him by mi authority which decides tlio various duties which require to be performed. --I am, etc., MAKKISS. Sir,—Be "Bill tlie Bullorky," a letter that appeared m Saturday's issue, malting most ridiculo is and disparaging remarks about the City loot specials. Will you he so kind as publish the fact that Llio mounted specials strongly object to the above letter? Wo consider that the City specials have done yeomen service, and have done their duty under more trying circumstances thnn we have, as having done night duty, without any remuneration whatever.— Thanking yoji in anticipation. —I am, etc., MOUNTED SPECIAL. Buckle Street Barracks,

STRIKES HERE AND ELSEWHERE. Sir, —It has been very comforting (faring this troublous time to note tho attitude you assume towards the wretched strike, which has not a redeeming point in it. I have also enjoyed yory much the letters (as fatas 1 havo been able to read) which havo appeared in your columns, bearing on tho same subject. When one comes to look at it, it seems yer.y vast, and could bo dealt with from different standpoints and aspects. Much can bo learned by comparisons; indeed, our estimate of what is right and fair in many cases is gauged by comparison. It may interest some of your readers to learn somo points regarding a similar strike iii another country, and 1 will give you a few facts regarding a great stnko which occurred in Sweden a nt 't time a£o. Tho strikers numbered 200,000, and the strike lasted four months. Liko in New Zealand, the Government tool; the matter in hand, with measures adequate for the need of tho hour, which no doubt saved the country from destruction or chaos. The University of Lund numbered 2000 students, who volunteered to come out and work in the harvest, thus saving the grain from destruction, and tho ]w?ople from starvation (Sweden used to grow enough grain for her own people's, consumption). Then, of course,, like here, tho strikers not only "downed tools," but determined by any kind of methods to prevent others from working, even though the best and greatest authority existing tells us that ho who will 110b Work ought not to cat. To meet this emergency, however, tho Government called out tho_ militia (soldiers), and stationed them in squads here and thero to keep order and protect the public, and to help in tho work where needed. Another important- fact was the closing of all tho bars during the strike. This acted so successfully that the public petitioned to have fhom closcd for a month after tho strike had ceased —I am, ctc., COSMOPOLITAN.